Celebrities to read for kids at Harborview on March 3

What: The general public is invited to Harborview’s Reach Out & Read in the Children and Teens clinic in the Ground West Clinic of the medical center. This is to celebrate Read Across America Day. Local celebrities will drop by to read their favorite Dr. Seuss books and all kids will get a new book to take home. In addition, the Harborview Community Service League will host a book drive to benefit the Harborview Reach Out & Read program. New or gently used books will be accepted.

When: Monday, March 3, 2003

Readings take place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Highlights of the schedule follow:

Where:Harborview Medical Center325 Ninth AvenueChildren and Teens Clinic in the Ground West Clinic

Media: Please go to Ground West Clinic or if you prefer, call Susan Gregg-Hanson at 206-731-4097 for an escort.

Backbround: Harborview Medical Center serves over 8,000 children annually. Our Reach Out and Read program, which originated in the Children and Teens Clinic, has expanded to three clinics and the Emergency Services/Urgent Care areas, serving a culturally diverse, low-income, at-risk patient population. Recently published results from our program show that reading as a favorite activity increased from 10% to 25% for the children and from 18% to 40% for the parents; and parents who read to their child before bed at least weekly increased from 45% to 71%. For more information about the program visit the website: http://depts.washington.edu/literacy